Peugeot 207: common problems, best years and what to check
Older supermini; cheap, but check the engine type carefully. Covers 2008–2014 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Peugeot 207 a good used buy?
Best buy
1.4 8v or 1.6 HDi
Avoid
THP with chain rattle
Who it suits: Budget buyers wanting a cheap first car.
What's good
- Cheap to buy
- Comfortable ride
- Lots of choice
- Frugal HDi
What's not
- Electrical gremlins
- Prince petrol engine issues
- Feels dated
- Poor DfT survival
By the numbers
- #101 most common model on UK roads, with about 86k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2010: 20.3k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 34% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- TU3 1.4 8v uses a belt (80k / 5 yrs): budget £250–£400 if there's no invoice.
- The most expensive common fault: Timing chain stretch (up to £1,200).
Peugeot 207 common problems by generation and engine
Peugeot 207 207 (2006–2014) · hatch/SW/CC
How to spot it: 06 plate to 14 plate. Big gaping grille with swept-back headlights.
1.4 8v / 1.4 VTi (TU3 / EP3, petrol, 2006–2014)
8v is simple; VTi shares Prince issues
1.6 VTi / THP (EP6 (Prince), petrol, 2007–2014)
Chain and carbon issues
- Timing chain stretch£600–£1,20050k+
1.4 / 1.6 HDi (DV4 / DV6, diesel, 2006–2014)
Frugal
- Injector seals£200–£50060k+
Faults on any 207 (2006–2014) engine
- Electrical gremlins (BSI)£100–£500any
- Rear axle bearings£400–£90080k+
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Peugeot 207 years
How many Peugeot 207s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 — check these harder.
Peugeot 207 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Peugeot 207s pass their MOT first time 10 points less often than the average UK car of the same age (50% vs 60%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 49% | 57% | 88k miles |
| 2009 | 48% | 58% | 85k miles |
| 2010 | 50% | 59% | 86k miles |
| 2011 | 51% | 61% | 82k miles |
| 2012 | 53% | 63% | 80k miles |
| 2013 | 55% | 66% | 74k miles |
| 2014 | 69% | 69% | 50k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Petrol
Diesel
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Position lamp: not working10.36 per 100
- Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt10.28 per 100
- Coil spring: fractured or broken8.04 per 100
- Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect7.07 per 100
- Stop lamp: not working6.68 per 100
- Headlamp: not working on dipped beam5.68 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn5 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.58 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm29.2 per 100
- Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine19.84 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened18.71 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear16.23 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded12.49 per 100
- Exhaust system: system insecure8.91 per 100
- Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened6.54 per 100
- Service brake performance: excessively binding6.13 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Peugeot 207 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| TU3 1.4 8v | belt | 80k / 5 yrs | £250–£400 |
| EP3/EP6 | chain | check from 50k | £600–£1,200 |
Peugeot 207 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Peugeot 207 ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Peugeot 207 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 207 | 86k | 3–15 | 270 l | 1.4 8v or 1.6 HDi |
| Ford Fiesta | 1159k | 2–20 | 292 l | 2017–2023 Mk8 1.0 EcoBoost 100/125 manual |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 830k | 1–20 | 309 l | 2019+ Corsa F 1.2 (75ps non-turbo) or Corsa E 1.4 manual |
| Renault Clio | 274k | 2–20 | 300 l | 2013–2019 Clio IV 0.9 TCe or 1.5 dCi manual |
| Volkswagen Polo | 582k | 2–17 | 351 l | 2017+ AW 1.0 TSI 95 manual |
| Toyota Yaris | 469k | 4–14 | 286 l | 2012–2020 1.5 Hybrid or 2020+ 1.5 Hybrid |
What to check when buying a used Peugeot 207
- Avoid THP/VTi without chain records
Peugeot 207 FAQ
›Is the Peugeot 207 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 1.4 8v or 1.6 HDi. Avoid: THP with chain rattle.
›What is the Peugeot 207 MOT pass rate?
50% of Peugeot 207s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (84,255 tests), below the 60% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: position lamp: not working.
›What are the most common Peugeot 207 problems?
The costliest known faults are Timing chain stretch; Injector seals. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Peugeot 207 have a timing belt or chain?
TU3 1.4 8v: belt; EP3/EP6: chain.
›What is the best year Peugeot 207 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2011, 2012, 2013 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Peugeot 207 cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.4 petrol 40–46 mpg; 1.6 HDi 55–65 mpg. Insurance groups 3–15. A minor service is about £130–£190 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Peugeot 207?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Peugeot 207 ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.